Chapter 44: Soul Douluo Are Like Ants—Your Bones Are Too Soft
Although the nominal head of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was Emperor Xue Ye himself, he rarely involved himself in its management.
In practice, the academy was overseen by Prince Xue Xing and the three Education Committee members.
Prince Xue Xing often meddled in academy affairs, attempting to seize full control.
However, the three committee members were from Spirit Hall, personally invited by Emperor Xue Ye. Naturally, they had no intention of handing power to the prince.
Over time, tension grew between the two sides—though it had yet to escalate into open conflict.
As for Dugu Bo, though he served as Prince Xue Xing's honored guest, he technically had no authority to interfere in academy matters.
Yet today, he suddenly brought along a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old youth and declared that this young soul master would represent the academy in the upcoming Soul Master Tournament. It was practically a public slap in the face to the Education Committee.
Had Prince Xue Xing himself come, they might have shown some courtesy. But with only Dugu Bo here, and his tone so arrogant—it was intolerable.
True, Dugu Bo was a titled Douluo, a being far above them in rank and power. But all three committee members were Spirit Hall's people, each one a Soul Douluo, and they had Emperor Xue Ye backing them.
There was no reason to fear him.
When Zhi Lin volunteered to "test" Gui Mei, Dugu Bo secretly smirked.
Test him? Ridiculous.
Not just Zhi Lin—even if the three of them joined forces, they wouldn't be able to withstand the crushing weight of Gui Mei's aura.
This so-called "assessment" would only end in humiliation.
Zhi Lin stepped closer to the youth.
His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, locked onto the boy before him—searching for the slightest hint of fear, unease, or hesitation.
But what he saw instead was a face cold and unreadable, as still as frozen water.
The young man's eyes were calm and deep—like a tranquil abyss untouched by wind or light. No matter how sharp Zhi Lin's gaze became, he couldn't stir the faintest ripple in that darkness.
The boy's lips were pressed together in composure, his posture steady and natural, exuding a quiet confidence—as though the entire situation was under his control.
Zhi Lin felt an involuntary jolt of surprise.
For someone his age to remain so utterly unfazed beneath the oppressive aura of a Soul Douluo—this was not normal.
"Hmph. You've got some courage, I'll give you that," Zhi Lin said coldly, though a trace of irritation tinged his voice.
"But courage alone is useless. In this world, only strength gives you the right to speak."
As soon as his words fell, the air around them rippled faintly.
A powerful wave of soul power pressure surged outward, enveloping Gui Mei completely.
The air seemed to freeze, pressing down from all directions.
Yet Gui Mei's expression didn't change. His gaze remained indifferent, his body perfectly still, as though the crushing weight around him was nothing but a breeze.
Zhi Lin frowned slightly, surprise flashing through his eyes. This youth's soul power… was immense.
He couldn't even gauge the boy's level.
The pressure he was exerting was already equivalent to that of a Soul Elder around rank thirty-five—yet it hadn't made the slightest impression.
"Impossible… How can a boy this young possess such deep reserves of soul power? Am I sensing it wrong?"
With a grim expression, Zhi Lin released even more pressure, his aura surging like a tidal wave. His black robes fluttered violently without wind, his soul power crashing through the room like an invisible storm.
The air itself twisted under the weight.
But Gui Mei stood unmoved. His figure was tall and straight, feet rooted firmly to the floor. Not a tremor passed through his body—not even the corner of his sleeve stirred.
He stood like a solitary mountain in a raging storm, unshaken, eternal.
He stood there like a towering mountain—unshaken, no matter how fiercely the wind howled.
Zhi Lin's eyes widened in disbelief. The sharp, predatory gleam in them faltered, replaced by sheer astonishment.
His soul power pressure… it was as if it had been swallowed by an endless void.
No matter how much he released, it vanished without a trace, unable to stir even the faintest ripple in the youth before him.
As a Soul Douluo, Zhi Lin's name carried weight across the Soul Master world.
Normally, when facing young soul masters, he only needed to release a sliver of his aura to make them tremble, drenched in cold sweat.
But this youth—this sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy—stood there like an unshakable peak, calmly bearing the full brunt of his power.
Zhi Lin increased the pressure.
He had expected to see the boy's expression twist in pain, his knees buckle, or at least some flicker of discomfort.
Instead, reality mocked his expectations.
The young man's gaze remained tranquil and unreadable—eyes as deep as an abyss, containing unfathomable secrets.
Even the other two committee members began to notice something was off.
At first, they had been watching lazily from the side, thinking this "test" was a waste of time—why go so far just to assess a youth?
But when they saw the boy standing motionless, face calm and body steady as a mountain, their smiles froze. Shock gradually replaced their casual amusement.
Having worked alongside Zhi Lin for years, they could tell—he had already released pressure at a level that only a Soul Emperor—a rank sixty master—could normally withstand.
They had worried at first that Zhi Lin's aura might harm the youth and offend Dugu Bo.
But now, seeing how the boy hadn't even flinched, they found themselves unable to comprehend what kind of terrifying strength he possessed.
Zhi Lin's aura continued to surge, his soul power pouring out endlessly. The youth stood beneath it all, unshaken, without even releasing his martial soul.
The question gnawed at Zhi Lin: Where is his limit?
Then, all at once—
A chilling wave of soul power erupted from the youth's body. The air itself shuddered.
Zhi Lin's expression changed instantly.
He felt an overwhelming, boundless force explode outward from the boy—cold, oppressive, and carrying a murderous weight so intense it felt like death itself had descended upon him.
That pressure crushed him from every direction, dragging him into a suffocating darkness. Even his soul felt shackled.
What… What kind of power is this?!
His face turned deathly pale. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead in thick rivulets as his legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
Gui Mei's gaze fell upon him—calm, indifferent, utterly devoid of emotion.
But in Zhi Lin's eyes, that look was the gaze of a god watching an ant.
A deep sense of helplessness—and humiliation—flooded his chest.
"Th-This… this is impossible…"
Zhi Lin roared inwardly, forcing his body to straighten, trying to resist the crushing weight pressing him down.
'No! I won't kneel! I can't kneel!'
His pride, his dignity as a Soul Douluo—none of it would allow him to submit before a mere boy!
With a desperate snarl, he gathered every last shred of his strength, his soul power erupting in a final struggle to break free.
But the pressure pressing upon him was like a mountain forged from despair—vast and immovable. No matter how hard he fought, it did not budge an inch.
The other two committee members could only stare, dumbstruck.
Never in their wildest dreams would they have imagined this scene— that a Soul Douluo like Zhi Lin would be crushed, powerless, before a youth barely seventeen!
Standing to the side, Dugu Bo watched the scene unfold, a faint, smug smile curling at his lips. Seeing Zhi Lin's face pale and his body tremble filled him with unrestrained delight.
'Hmph. I warned you not to humiliate yourself.'
Just as Zhi Lin's knees began to buckle—
"That's enough. Stop."
A deep, steady voice cut through the tension. The chief committee member, Meng Sheji, rose to his feet at last.
—
End of Chapter